It's his first festive chart topper, but his 'Perfect' collaboration with Beyonce nearly didn't happen

The Brit superstar has revealed he was reluctant to pull in the favour because he didn’t feel it was an appropriate question to ask the diva while she was pregnant with her twins.

In an exclusive interview, Ed told me: “She was obviously ­pregnant and I wanted to ask her — I just didn’t know if it was the right thing to do.

“I didn’t want to be like, ‘Hey, I know you’re just about to have twins but do you mind working?’ So I kind of like left it and just put the feelers out and said, ‘If you would be interested, would you consider it?’ But, yeah, she ended up doing it.”

Sales and streaming figures for the tune were added to those for the two other versions of the song Ed has also released — smashing his festive No1 rivals including X Factor winners RAK-SU.

Showing her stripes... after a tough year, Katy is back with the video for new single Hey, Hey, Hey

She posted on Instagram: “I’m reflecting on a year that has redefined what winning means to me. And the definition for me this year was simply happiness and gratitude.

“After a year of peaks and valleys (remember, it’s all a journey), I wanted to end 2017 with a fun, triumphant piece of pop candy.”

She was always going to struggle to top 2016 and that paddleboard trip with a naked ORLANDO BLOOM.

Katy Perry dresses as a sexy Marie Antoinette in music video for new single Hey Hey Hey

Biz Bit

DAYS after announcing she will kick off a Las Vegas residency at the end of next year, LADY GAGA is working on new music. JUSTIN BIEBER’s Friends collaborator BLOODPOP shared a photo online of them both in the studio.

His high-pitched tones have been his fortune, but James Blunt's worried he might lose them after finally giving up smoking

JAMES BLUNT’s high-pitched tones have made him millions.

But now he is so scared he will lose them that he has given up smoking.

He finally kicked the habit over the summer, but confessed he has found it tough to stay off cigarettes after a drink.

He said: “What I find the biggest struggle is when I’ve been drunk and then I occasionally smoke. And I’ve really struggled with that because, as a singer, it’s really, really bad. And then I start sounding like a man rather than a high-pitched voice that has looked after me for many, many years.

James Blunt plays ding-a-ling-a-dong-a-long-a-thon on Celebrity Juice

“But touch wood, I haven’t been doing it since June and I’m really glad because it was a waste of time.” James released fifth album The Afterlove in March, which he has been touring across the world since October.

Giving up smoking should at least make the long flights a bit more bearable.

An onlooker said: “This was Mollie and AJ properly going public with their romance. They were all over each other all night and kissing and cuddling. They only had eyes for each other and they were properly going for it.

“They didn’t leave each other’s side.”

Mollie King and AJ Pritchard dance the Samba on Strictly Come Dancing

I revealed earlier this month that the pair, who finished fifth on Strictly, were now together after falling for each other during the competition.

Mollie described pro dancer AJ as her “hero” after they were eliminated.

Just payne-ful

Liam's decision to pair a Supreme headband with a checked hoodie, trackie bottoms and gold chain have made Liam the first celebrity to steal my Just Bin It stamp from the teen favourite Justin

LIAM PAYNE is continuing to go the extra mile for JUSTIN BIEBER.

After giving the Canadian his phone number in March to offer guidance on handling the limelight, he’s now ­taking more heat off the singer by ­outdoing him in fashion faux pas. His decision to pair a Supreme headband with a checked hoodie, trackie bottoms and gold chain, above, have made Liam, out in New York yesterday, the first celebrity to steal my Just Bin It stamp from the teen favourite.

Biz Bit

CHARLI XCX almost enlisted DUA LIPA for her new Pop 2 mixtape, but she revealed Dua’s crazy schedule meant they could not get into the studio together. However, Charli said: “It would definitely be fun to write for her.”

Biz Bit

TAYLOR SWIFT’s app has not got off to a great start. She launched The Swift Life last week, but it has already been over-run with homophobic ­comments and DONALD TRUMP supporters. And it failed to make Apple’s app store top 200 chart.